This was one of the last that I had to shoot inside, but it was behind a bunch of debris, garbage, and, well, human fecal matter.
In order to get the shot, I had to move closer to the wall. That meant disturbing some of what was sitting up against it, and for the first time since I came through what used to be the door, the surrounding natives suddenly got restless. They didn’t have a problem as long as I kept my distance, but this was getting too close, and they wanted me to know it.
I talked with the homeless man sitting right by where my lens was aimed, explaining to him what I was doing, how I was just there to take a bunch of pictures, and after I’d finished getting this picture I’d be on my way.
He was dead silent for about 60 seconds, during which time I’m watching my back to make sure I’m not being set up for something I wouldn’t want to write home about. He finally agreed, but on one condition: I wasn’t allowed to touch the brown box in front of the piece. I could do anything else I wanted, but don’t touch the box.
The box was empty, so apparently, he saw something it that I didn’t – but I wasn’t about to open it up to discussion.
Salt Lake City, UT, USA. 04/19/2015.